Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik addresses.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Biju Janata Dal president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amidst mounting pressure on the Narendra Modi Government from opposition parties over NEET paper leak and examination reforms.
“I have been asked whether the Union Education Minister should resign. Many Opposition parties have been demanding for his resignation. I think he should resign,” Mr. Patnaik said, taking the name of Mr. Pradhan for the first time in after the controversy erupted.
Terming the situation “very serious” and “very grave”, he said a number of students were violently attacked and injured. The protests were not limited to Delhi but had spread to several Indian cities and even before Indian embassies outside the country, the BJD president pointed out.
After deliberating on the issue with party’s Rajya Sabha MPs in New Delhi, the veteran politician made the statement and asked BJD MPs to take up the issue in Parliament.
In a long post in ‘X’ on Sunday, Mr Patnaik, “A nation that compromises the integrity of its examination system, compromises its own future. This grave issue, affecting millions of students across the country, must be taken up in Parliament as the highest priority.”
“India too has made remarkable progress because of the strength of its education system. It has nurtured generations of brilliant doctors, scientists, engineers, teachers, and innovators who have shaped modern India. Today, however, trust in this system stands broken. The damage goes far beyond a failed exam,” he said.
“Politics aside, I urge the government to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the students who have been peacefully protesting for days. They must be given a platform to express their views. A vibrant democracy advances through dialogue, not silence, and this dialogue is most vital when it involves the youth of the nation,” Mr. Patnaik had pointed out.
Published – July 22, 2026 05:00 am IST
